Apparatus for conveying and treating articles



Nov.23, 1943. w H, wm o 2,334,974

APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING AND TREATING ARTICLES Original Filed Aug. 6, 1940 32 INVENTOR wilcox a mm ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 23, 1943 APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING AND TREATING ARTICLES William H. Wilcox, Stockton, Calif., assignor to California Cedar Products Company, a corporation Original application August 6, 1940, Serial No. 351,562. Divided and this application November 4, 1941, Serial No. 417,788

Claims.

This invention relates to improved conveying and treating apparatus for performing a certain portion of a manufacturing process, and in particular the invention is directed to a unique mechanical assembly for treating pencil slats during the course of the manufacture thereof.

This application is a division of my copending application on Slat feeding apparatus, Ser. No. 351,562, filed August 6, 1940, now U. S. Patent No. 2,275,709, dated March 10, 1942.

In the manufacture of pencil slats, the individual slats are cut from blocks by gang saws; the individual slats emerging from the saws in block shaped groups wherein the slats engage each other in face to face relation. In other words, the individual slats in each group remain in the same relation to each other as the material forming the same existed in the integral block.

It has been found desirable to maintain the individual slats in such groups to the extent possible in the course of manufacture whereby to effectuate improved handling technique, inspection and grading by block characteristics rather 7 than individual slat characteristics, and similar advanced manufacturing operations. However, during manufacture there are one or more operations which may preferably be carried out with the individual slats separated from each other; one such operation being the application of the Wax to the slats.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a unique mechanical assembly which is operative to separate the individual but initially engaged articles-such as pencil slats-of a group, 'to then treat the separated articles with a processing material, and to thereafter return the articles into such initial position as a group, and wherein each article occupies the same relative position as at the outset.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus as above which is arranged to efiect a continuous advancing movement of the articles while the latter are being separated, treated and returned to the group; the apparatus advancing the articles, when separated, a predetermined distance.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus which is operative to separate the individual but initially engaged pencil slats of a group, to apply a quantity of processing fluid to each slat while thus separated, and to thereafter reengage the processed slats into said group.

It is also an object of this invention to provide apparatus which is operative to separate the individual but initially engaged pencil slats of a group, to apply a quantity of fluid but solidifiable wax to each slat while separated, and to thereafter reengage the waxed slats into said group, the apparatus preferably being timed to reengage the slats while the wax is fluid or plastic, whereby upon solidification thereof, the slats of the group are adhered together.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawing similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, mainly diagrammatic, or the apparatus.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary, enlarged elevation of a portion of the slat separating unit of the apparatus.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawing, a group of slats S in face to face engagement and as cut from a block, are conveyed from the gang saw (not shown) by means of conveyors I and 2 into a slat or group turn-over device indicated at 3 which rotates the group from its initial position with the engaged slats vertical and restin on their side edges to a horizontal or stacked position as shown in Fig. 1.

This slat or group turn-over device, together with the remainder of the apparatus, is shown and described in full in the above identified copending application, and therefore a general description of the structural assembly will suffice for the purpose of this application.

When the group of slats S is turned to and supported in horizontal position, the then vertical side 3a of turn-over device 3 against which the group rests, is alined with a fixed upstanding back plate 4 which extends some distance beyond device 3. A full length slat supporting strip 5 projects laterally and horizontally from the back plate in a plane to receive the lowermost slat of the group when advanced from the then horizontal group supporting flange 3b of device 3.

As a group of slats S so advance, they are engaged and received by an initial slat guiding and separating unit, indicated generally at 6, which includes, with strip 5, a plurality of vertically spaced, horizontal, and diverging strips 1 projecting laterally in fixed relation from back plate 4 above said strip 5. From this unit 6, the advancing slats are fed into the main or final slat separating unit, indicated generally at 8, which includes, with strip 5, a plurality of other similar strips 9 which project from the back plate and extend from adjacent unit 6 to substantially the remote end of said back plate; said strips 9 diverging from each other for some distance, then extending straight and parallel for some distance,

as indicated at it, and then converging to a termination in such closely spaced relation as to return the slats practically together again. From;

this termination the slats advance, again'in a group and in the same relation as at the-start, onto a receiving platform H, which may be one. end of strip 5.

While the separated slats are moving along the straight portions If], they maybe inspectedfor treated individually, and in the present embodi ment the slats are individually waxed on their upper face by suitable means here diagrammati cally shown as being a brush [2 for each slat, receiving normally solid wax in a molten condi+ tion from a tank 13 supported behind the back plate. The speedof advance of the slats from brushes [2 to platform II is such that the-slats reenga'ge as a group before the wax solidifies, whereby upon solidification thereof the siats of each group are firmly adhered together, facilitatinghandling, bundling, etc.

'Ifh'e slats'are transferred from turn-over device 3 onto the unit, 6, and carried through guiding and separating units 6 and 8,, by means of mechanism which includes a vertically spaced pair of driven chains l4 mounted on end sprockets i5 ancl'having their runs horizontal, parallel to, and laterally out from back plated; said runs extend.-'

adjacent predetermined relationship to each other, means to advance the group of elements as-aunit for a-predetermined distance, means acting on the elements as they are advanced to first separate and then bring them together again ,With said. surfaces positively in said predetermined relationshipxto each other, and means to treat the elements when they are separated. I "2; Conveying and treating apparatus comprising, means 'to-iiiitially support a group of like elements with given surfaces thereof in closely ing" from ahead ofjdevice Sto apoint adjacent and below platform I ll Upstanding rods [6 are mounted at intervals on the chains; such rods being of a height somewhat greater than unit 8 and engaging eachgroup of slats on device 3jand. advancing said slats through units 6 and 8; The,

slats overhang the strips of the units, and .the

rods engage the rear end of the overhanging portion of said'slats.

The'chains I 3, togetherjwith conveyorsi and 2',

are driven in timed relation from a motor ll. through the medium of a drive assembly indi-" cated generally at! 81 From'the foregoingjdescription itj'will be readily seenthat I have'producedsuch a device. as,

substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein;

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device,"

still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do notform a departure adjacent predetermined relationship to each other, means to advance the group of elements as a unitfor :a predetermined, distance, means acting on the elementsjas they are advanced'to,

first separate and then bringthem together again,

andmeans operative to apply a. treatinglmaterialto the elements when they are separated.

3. Conveying and'treatingapparatusv comprising means to initially support a, groupof slats in a close face to face and otherwise predeterminedrelationship to eachother, means to advance the.-

slats as a unit'for a predetermined distance, means acting as the slats'arejadvanced to first separate and then bring'them together againin. said face to face and predetermined relationship: and means to 'apply wax to one .face of thesfats when they are separated. I 4. Conveying and (treating, apparatus. compris-. j ing means to initially support a'group of slatsin;

close 'face to face relationship, means to advance the slats'asa' unit for apredetermineddistance,

means acting as theslatsare advanced to sepa-Y rate them 'in a vertical direction while maintaining the slats substantially horizontal, and means; to treat one face of the slatswhile they are thus separated.

5; Conveying and treating apparatus compris ing means to initially support a group of like,

elements in closely adjacent relationship, means to a'dvancejthe group of elements asa unit for-a predetermined distance, means ,actingjon the elements as theyare advanced to first separate and then bringjthem togetheragain, and-means,

disposedito project betweenthe" elements and;

treat an adjacent surface thereof when they are;

separated.

' WILLIAM H; WILCOX. 

